It’s often a first job, an entry-level role, and a good money maker whilst at school or university. However, retail doesn’t have to be a throwaway job, it can be a stepping stone to many other career paths.
We sat down with Jessica Lewy–a Senior Associate here at Recruit Career Consult–to talk about her transition from retail sales staff to a recruitment role and how starting in retail has helped her succeed in her career.
Jessica started her retail journey in a bridal boutique where her role was centrally based around one-on-one appointments. This helped her develop an understanding of personalised customer service and the importance of relationship-building in retail sales. Having a background in fashion design, she had always felt connected with retail businesses–in particular, fashion and luxury brands.
In her last role in retail, Jessica was a multi-site manager responsible for overseeing seven locations across standalone and concession environments. She loved her role; however, felt it was time for a change. Being passionate about helping others grow and achieve their goals, she felt recruitment would be a good fit and would allow her to continue doing what she loved.
Jessica started by recruiting for store and area manager roles. Having worked in these roles in the past, she felt they would be a good stepping stone and build her confidence while connecting with candidates on a personal level. Her confidence has grown and she has now moved into bigger roles. She found a new love in developing strong partnerships and learning from candidates and employers.
Jessica has now recruited staff for roles across design, operations, training, marketing, buying and merchandising, human resources and the supply chain. This has provided her with the opportunity to bring new clients to businesses through building relationships with employers and potential staff.
Since leaving retail Jessica has built her career in recruitment under the guidance of Amelia and Recruit Career Consult. She aims to add value to every stage of the recruitment process for every client and candidate. Jessica is currently working on the campaign recruitment for a Global Luxury Brand who are opening their first boutiques in Australia. This will bring a multitude of learning opportunities, including the chance to go abroad to countries like Singapore to meet overseas clients. Jessica feels that she wouldn’t be where she is today without her starting role in retail. As a result, she loves to share her story as an inspiration to others.
If you’re ready to make the transition from retail to another career path, check out our careers page here.
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